BROODING MANAGEMENT OF CHICKS

Dr. Rameswar PandaTeaching Assistant

Dept. of LPMCollege of Veterinary Science, Hyderabad

INTRODUCTION• Brooding is art and science of

rearing chicks up to the age of 3-5wks.

• To Prevent cold shock.• Hypothalamus is not well

developed. • 2 systems of brooding.1. Hot room brooding- central

heating device is used.2. Cold room brooding- heating

the area only under brooder canopy. Used mostly in tropical countries for both layers and broilers

CANOPY BROODING• Use of Incandescent light.• Hover made up off metal of

bamboo basket• 1-2 watt/chick light requirement• A metal hoover or bamboo

basket of diameter 90 cm for 250 chicks.

• Brooder/chick guard- height 30 cm

• Encircles the hover at a distance of 30-60 cm.

• Chick guard- GI pipe or metal

Contd….•Circles enlarged at

2nd week.•During 2nd week,

chick guard is replaced to corner of the pen.

•By 3rd week, it is removed entirely.

INFRARED BROODING• 150 and 250 watt infrared

bulbs are available for 100-250 chicks.

• The infrared bulb should be hung 25-30 cm above the litter floor.

• Infrared light has germicidal effect.

• Infrared light helps in the synthesis of Vit-D.

• It reduces cannibalism.

BATTERY BROODING

• More than 60% of all commercial layers are brooded and reared in cages.

• Coccidiosis is less frequent.• It consists of 4-5 batteries

each having a heating space comprising 1/4th of total area.

•The heating unit has electric heater having a thermostat.

•For the first 3 days paper is spread on the mesh flooring.

BROODING BY THE USE OF LPG GAS

KEROSENE BROODER

CHARCOAL BROODER

• Flat hover/Reflector-

• Canopy type hover`

BROODER/CHICK GUARD•5 feet diameter chick

guard should be used.

•Height of the brooder should not be more than 1.5feet.

PREPARATION OF BROODER HOUSE• 3-4 weeks interval should

be given between two successive batches.

• 5 feet diameter chick guard can accommodate 200-250 chicks.

• Litter material should be spread about 2’’ height.

Contd….• Feeder and waterer should

be arranged alternatively like cartwheel manner.

• The brooder heating source should be switched on several hours before the arrival of chicks

• Ground maize should be spread over the old news paper for 1 to 2 days

Contd….• Electrolyte solution, glucose

and vitamin in the drinking water is provided for first 2-3 days.

• Brooder temperature 90-95 F is maintained in first week and decreases 5 F per every week until the room temperature

• Old news paper should be removed after 3 days of brooding.• 24 hr light for 0-8

wks.

first and second day

3rd to 7th day

LOCATION OF BROODER HOUSE Distance between

brooder house and other poultry houses should not be more than 100 m.

ALL-IN-ALL-OUT SYSTEM OF REARING•All the chicks should be

in same age groups.•The age difference

between the oldest and youngest ones should not more than 7days.

• Washing of the brooding cage

Feeding space•2.5cm/chick- 0 to 2 wks•4.5cm/chick- 2 to 6 wks Watering space •0.6cm/chick- 0 to 2 wks•1.3cm/chick- 2 to 6 wks

•Concentration Should not be more than 0.01%

VENTILATION

•Hover space requirement is 45-60 square cm per chick

•Up to 8 wks, floor space requirement in layer chicks is 700 square cm.

DEBEAKING•Done in chicks at the

age of 1 day to 6 wks. •Repeated again at

about 16 wks of age. •Upper mandible beak to

be cut at about 1/3rd distance

DUBBING•Removal of comb•Done in day old

chicks. •Done in breeds

having larger combs.

VACCINATION STRESS•Feed intake decreases.

• Increase the brooding temperature to keep comfortable

COCCIDIOSIS

•Affects mostly younger birds.

•Coccidiostat to be added in the feed.

UNABSORBED YOLK SAC• Feeding immediately after

hatching causes this condition.

• The presence of yolk during the first 14 days should not be considered as importance.

• Overheating can be problem for lower yolk absorption.

HEAT STRESS COLD STRESS

CHICK MORTALITY

More pronounced in first week.